In Touch With Nature – Cheetah, world’s fastest land mammal #cheetah #Intouchwithnature #southernAfricanwildlife

Picture caption: In Touch with Nature 2025 banner featuring a black-maned lion

The cheetah is the world’s fastest land mammal. At their top speed to 70 mph, they advance 23 feet (7 meters) in a single stride and complete 4 strides every second. This top speed can only be maintained for approximately 30 seconds.

Fourteen reasons why cheetahs are so fastAerodynamic body shape – a cheetah’s body is slender and designed for swift, unyielding motion. Watching a cheetah run is like watching a dancer glide across a stage.Long, flexible spine – as a cheetah speeds up, its spine stretches and contracts giving each leg an incredibly long reach.Muscle power – cheetahs are sprinters. Their muscles are packed with fast-twitch fibres to allow for short burst of explosive speed.Large nasal passages – the cheetah has large nasal passages which provide for plenty of oxygen during sprints.Tail for balance – the cheetah’s long and muscular tail acts like a rudder, allowing it to steer and balance at high speeds.Powerful leg muscles – the cheetah’s powerful leg muscles catapult the animal forward to achieve high speed dashes.Clawed feet – cheetah’s have semi-retractable claws that work like cleats, digging into the earth for a better grip.Non-slip pads – cheetahs have unique paw pads that are rough and textured to provide maximum grip, so they don’t slip.Fast acceleration – a cheetah can accelerate from zero to sixty in three seconds. Excellent vision – cheetah’s have extraordinary vision which allows them to plan their attack with precision and track movements even at high speed.Lightweight build – the cheetah’s lean build allows for quicker acceleration and sustained speed.Efficient energy use – cheetahs take power naps between sprints allowing them to recharge for the next burst of speed.Powerful heart and lungs – The heart and lungs of a cheetah are larger and more efficient than those of other cats, ensuring a constant supply of oxygen to their muscles. Swift reflexes – the cheetah’s swift reflexes allow for split-second decisions and adjustments during a chase. Picture caption: Male cheetah walking on top of a rock in the morning sunshine Picture caption: Male cheetah sitting on a rock at Madikwe Game Reserve Picture caption: Male cheetah standing on a rock in the morning sunshine Picture caption: Male cheetah on the move, walking down off the rock.

My YouTube video of this cheetah stretching:

My YouTube video of a juvenile cheetah walking through the bush:

The following syllabic poem is from my book, Lion Scream, Syllabic Poetry About Southern African Wildlife:

Flat Cat

Barely discernible
Dark spots on tawny fur
She lies nonchalantly, blending into veld
Of vibrant golden hues
Dappled with shadows
***
Raising a sluggish head
She appears awake
Gives an impression of careful surveillance
But it’s an illusion
Her eyes tightly closed
***
Yawning, sharp teeth exposed
Then over she rolls
Head dropping down, she settles back into sleep
Almost disappearing
Flat cat in the grass

My YouTube reading of Flat Cat:

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and  WordCrafter Press .

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3